Feedback method according to touch level and touch input device performing the same

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, the invention can be a touch input device capable of unlocking a passcode accordance with a touch pressure. The device can include a touch screen which displays a passcode input window; a controller which generates a first control signal as to whether or not a touch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode; and a memory which stores the predetermined passcode. The passcode input window can include a plurality of nodes which are disposed in different positions. The number of touched nodes among the plurality of nodes, the order of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes, and a pressure level of the touch on each of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes can be set as the predetermined passcode. Further, the pressure level of the touch can he classified into at least two levels.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14,555,751, filed Nov. 28, 2014, which claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0147582, filed Nov.29, 2013, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0147583, filed Nov. 29,2013, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0152493, filed Dec. 9, 2013,Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0017255, filed Feb. 14, 2014,Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0034169, filed Mar. 24, 2014,Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0043284, filed Apr. 11, 2014,Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0055732 filed May 9, 2014, KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2014-0098917, filed Aug. 1, 2014, KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2014-0124920, filed Sep. 19, 2014, and KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2014-0145022, filed Oct. 24, 2014.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present invention relates to a feedback method according to a touchlevel and a touch input device performing the same, and moreparticularly to a technology of supplying feedback to allow a user tocheek a touch pressure, a touch area and/or a touch time period on atouch screen, thereby making it possible to unlock the touch screen byusing the feedback.

Description of Related Art

A variety of input devices are being used to operate a computing system.For example, input devices like a button, a key, a joystick and a touchscreen are being used. Since the touch screen is easy and simple tooperate, the touch screen is increasingly being used in operation of thecomputing system.

The touch screen may include a touch sensor panel which may be atransparent panel including a touch-sensitive surface. Such a touchsensor panel is attached to the front side of a display panel, and thenthe touch-sensitive surface may cover the visible side of the displaypanel. The touch screen allows a user to operate the computing system bysimply touching the screen by a finger, etc. In general, the touchscreen recognizes the touch on the panel and touch position, and thenthe computing system analyzes the touch and performs operations inaccordance with the analysis.

A variety of tasks can be done by the interaction between the user andthe device through the touch screen in a touch input device includingthe touch screen. To accomplish various tasks, there are requirementsfor not only whether a touch occurs or not on the touch screen but alsoclassifying a touch level. Also, as the touch input device, especially,a computing device including the touch screen gradually has a higherperformance, the user is allowed to perform financial tasks as well asprivate tasks by using the corresponding devices and the range of thetask is now gradually expanding. Accordingly, security for the touchinput device is also required to be heightened.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a touch input device capable of unlocking passcode inaccordance with a touch pressure is disclosed, the touch input devicecomprising a touch screen which displays a passcode input window; acontroller which generates a first control signal as to whether or not atouch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode; anda memory which stores the predetermined passcode; wherein the passcodeinput window comprises a plurality of nodes which are disposed indifferent positions; wherein the number of touched nodes among theplurality of nodes, the order of the touched nodes among the pluralityof nodes, and a pressure level of the touch on each of the touched nodesamong the plurality of nodes are set as the predetermined passcode; andwherein the pressure level of the touch is classified into at least twolevels.

In another embodiment, a method for unlocking a passcode in a touchinput device in accordance with a touch pressure is disclosed, themethod comprising displaying a passcode input window on a touch screen;determining a pressure level of a touch on the passcode input window;and generating a first control signal as to whether or not the touch onthe passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode; wherein thepasscode input window comprises a plurality of nodes which are disposedin different positions; wherein the number of touched nodes among theplurality of nodes, the order of the touched nodes among the pluralityof nodes, and the pressure level of the touch on each of the touchednodes among the plurality of nodes are set as the predeterminedpasscode; and wherein the pressure level of the touch is classified intoat least two levels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structure view of a touch input device according to anembodiment of present invention;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are views for describing the capacitance change amountdue to pressure;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are views for describing the capacitance change amountdue to the area;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are views for describing the touch time period;

FIG. 5 shows feedback performing steps based on a touch level on thetouch screen of the touch input device according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 6a to 6e show a feedback means and feedback method according tothe touch level in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 7a and 7b show a feedback means and feedback method according tothe touch level in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 shows a feedback means and feedback method according to the touchlevel accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9a to 9d show a process of unlocking a passcode input window inaccordance with the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows a structure of the touch screen according to the firstembodiment;

FIGS. 11a to 11d show a structure of a touch position sensing module ofthe touch screen according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 12a to 12f show a structure of a touch pressure sensing module ofthe touch screen according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows a structure of the touch screen according to the secondembodiment;

FIGS. 14a to 14k show a structure of a touch position-pressure sensingmodule of the touch screen according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows a structure of the touch screen according to the thirdembodiment;

FIGS. 16a to 16b show a structure of a touch pressure sensing module ofthe touch screen according to the embodiment;

FIG. 17a shows a structure of the touch screen according to a fourthembodiment;

FIGS. 17b and 17c are structure views of touch pressure sensing andtouch position sensing of the touch screen according to the fourthembodiment; and

FIGS. 18a to 18d are structure views showing the shape of an electrodeformed in the touch sensing module according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the present invention shows aspecified embodiment of the present invention and will be provided withreference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment will be describedin enough detail that those skilled in the art are able to embody thepresent invention. It should be understood that various embodiments ofthe present invention are different from each other and need not bemutually exclusive. The following detailed description is not intendedto be limited. If adequately described, the scope of the presentinvention is limited only by the appended claims of the presentinvention as well as all equivalents thereto. Similar reference numeralsin the drawings designate the same or similar functions in many aspects.

Hereafter, as touch device 100 including a touch screen 130 according tothe embodiment of the present invention will be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings. Prior to the description of the functionsand features of the touch input device 100 according to the embodimentof the present invention, the touch screen 130 included in the touchinput device100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10to 18.

FIG. 10 shows a structure of the touch screen according to a firstembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 10, the touch screen 130 may include a touch positionsensing module 1000, a touch pressure sensing module 2000 disposed underthe touch position sensing module 1000, a display module 3000 disposedunder the touch pressure sensing module 2000, and a substrate 4000disposed under the display module 3000. For example, the touch positionsensing module 1000 and the touch pressure sensing module 2000 may be atransparent panel including a touch-sensitive surface. Hereafter, themodules 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000 for sensing the touch position and/ortouch pressure may be collectively designated as a touch sensing module.

The display module 3000 is able to display the screen to allow a user tovisually check contents. Here, the display module 3000 may display bymeans of a display driver. The display driver (not shown) is a softwareallowing an operating system to manage or control a display adaptor andis a kind of a device driver.

FIGS. 11a to 11d show a structure of the touch position sensing moduleaccording to the first embodiment. FIGS. 18a to 18c are structure viewsshowing the shape of an electrode formed in the touch position sensingmodule according to the embodiment.

As show in FIG. 11 a, the touch position sensing module 1000 accordingto the embodiment may include a first electrode 1000 formed in onelayer. Here, the first electrode 1100 may be, as shown in FIG. 18 a,comprised of a plurality of electrodes 6100, and then a driving signalmay be input to each electrode 6100 and a sensing signal includinginformation on self-capacitance may be output from each electrode. Whenan object like a user's finger approaches the first electrode 1100, thefinger functions as a ground and the self-capacitance of first electrode1100 is changed. Therefore, the touch input device 100 is able to detectthe touch position by measuring the self capacitance of the firstelectrode 1100, which is changed as the object like the user's fingerapproaches the touch screen 130.

As shown in FIG. 1 b, the touch position sensing module 1000 accordingto the embodiment may include the first electrode 1100 and a secondelectrode 1200, which are formed on different layers.

Here, the first and the second electrodes 1100 and 1200 are, as shown inFIG. 18b , comprised of a plurality of first electrodes 6200 and aplurality of second electrodes 6300 respectively. The plurality of firstelectrodes 6200 and the plurality of second electrodes 6300 may bearranged to cross each other. A driving signal may be input to any oneof the first electrode 6200 and the second electrode 6300, and a sensingsignal including information on mutual capacitance may be output fromthe other. As shown in FIG. 11 b, when the object like the user's fingerapproaches the first electrode 1100 and the second electrode 1200, thefinger functions as a ground, so that the mutual capacitance between thefirst electrode 1100 and the second electrode 1200 is changed. In thiscase, the touch input device 100 measures the mutual capacitance betweenthe first electrode 1100 and the second electrode 1200, which is changedwith the approach of the object like the user's finger to the touchscreen 130, and then detects the touch position. Also, the drivingsignal may be input to the first electrode 6200 and the second electrode6300, and a sensing signal including information on the self-capacitancemay be output from the first and second electrodes 6200 and 6300respectively. As shown in FIG. 11 c, when the object like the user'sfinger approaches the first electrode 1100 and the second electrode1200, the finger functions as a ground, so that the self-capacitance ofeach of the first and second electrodes 1100 and 1200 is changed. Inthis case, the touch input device 100 measures the self-capacitances ofthe first electrode 1100 and the second electrode 1200, which is changedwith the approach of the object like the user's finger to the touchscreen 130, and then detects the touch position.

As shown in FIG. 11 d, the touch position sensing module 1000 accordingto the embodiment may include the first electrode 1100 formed in onelayer and the second electrode 1200 formed in the same layer as thelayer in which the first electrode 1100 has been formed.

Here, the first and the second electrodes 1100 and 1200 are, as shown inFIG. 18 c, comprised of a plurality of first electrodes 6400 and aplurality of second electrodes 6500 respectively. The plurality of firstelectrodes 6400 and the plurality of second electrodes 6500 may bearranged without crossing each other and may be arranged such that theplurality of second electrodes 6500 are connected to each other in adirection crossing the extension direction of the first electrodes 6400.A principle of detecting the touch position by using the first electrode6400 or the second electrode 6500 shown in FIG. 11d is the same as thatof the foregoing referring to FIG. 11 c, and thus a description of theprinciple will be omitted.

FIGS. 12a to 12f show a structure of the touch pressure sensing moduleaccording to the first embodiment. FIGS. 18a to 18d are structure viewsshowing the shape of the electrode formed in the touch pressure sensingmodule 2000 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 12a to 12 f, the touch pressure sensing module 2000according to the first embodiment may include a spacer layer 2400. Thespacer layer 2400 may be implemented by an air gap. The spacer may becomprised of an impact absorbing material according to the embodimentand may be also filled with a dielectric material according to theembodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 12a to 12d , the touch pressure sensing module 2000according to the first embodiment may include a reference potentiallayer 2500. The reference potential layer 2500 may have any potential.For example, the reference potential layer may be a ground layer havinga ground potential. Here, the reference potential layer may include alayer which is parallel with a two-dimensional plane in which abelow-described first electrode 2100 for sensing the touch pressure hasbeen formed or a two-dimensional plane in which a below-described secondelectrode 2200 for sensing the touch pressure has been formed. Althoughit has been described in FIGS. 12a to 12d that the touch pressuresensing module 2000 includes the reference potential layer 2500, thereis no limit to this. The touch pressure sensing module 2000 does notinclude the reference potential layer 2500, and the display module 3000or the substrate 4000 which is disposed wider the touch pressure sensingmodule 2000 may function as the reference potential layer.

As shown in FIG. 12a , the touch pressure sensing module 2000 accordingto the embodiment may include the first electrode 2100 formed in onelayer, the spacer layer 2400 formed under the layer in which the firstelectrode 2100 has been formed, and the reference potential layer 2500formed under the spacer layer 2400.

Here, the first electrode 2100 is, as shown in FIG. 18a , comprised ofthe plurality of electrodes 6100. Then, the driving signal may be inputto each of the electrodes 6100 and the sensing signal includinginformation on the self-capacitance may be output from each electrode.When a pressure is applied to the touch screen 130 by the object likethe user's finger or stylus, the first electrode 2100 is, as shown inFIG. 12 b, curved at least at the touch position, so that a distance “d”between the first electrode 2100 and the reference potential layer 2500is changed, and thus, the self-capacitance of the first electrode 2100is changed. Accordingly, the touch input device 100 is able to detectthe touch pressure by measuring the self-capacitance of the firstelectrode 2100, which is changed by the pressure that the object likethe user's finger or stylus applies to the touch screen 130. As such,since the first electrode 2100 is comprised of the plurality ofelectrodes 6100, the touch input device 100 is able to detect thepressure of each of multiple touches which have been simultaneouslyinput to the touch screen 130. Also, when there is no requirement fordetecting the pressure of each of multiple touches, it is only requiredto detect overall pressure applied to the touch screen 130 irrespectiveof the touch position. Therefore, the first electrode 2100 of the touchpressure sensing module 2000 may be, as shown in FIG. 18d , comprised ofone electrode 6600.

As shown in FIG. 12c , the touch pressure sensing module 2000 accordingto the embodiment may include the first electrode 2100, the secondelectrode 2200 formed under the layer in which the first electrode 2100has been formed, the spacer layer 2400 formed under the layer in whichthe second electrode 2200 has been formed, and the reference potentiallayer 2500 formed under the spacer layer 2400.

Here, the first electrode 2100 and the second electrode 2200 may beconfigured and arranged as shown in FIG. 18 b. A driving signal is inputto any one of the first electrode 6200 and the second electrode 6300,and a sensing signal including information on the mutual capacitance maybe output from the other. When a pressure is applied to the touch screen130, the first electrode 2100 and the second electrode 2200 are, asshown in FIG. 12 d, curved at least at the touch position, so that adistance “d” between the reference potential layer 2500 and both thefirst electrode 2100 and the second electrode 2200 is changed, and thus,the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 2100 and the secondelectrode 2200 is changed. Accordingly, the touch input device 100 isable to detect the touch pressure by measuring the mutual capacitancebetween the first electrode 2100 and the second electrode 2200, which ischanged by the pressure that is applied to the touch screen 130. Assuch, first electrode 2100 and the second electrode 2200 are comprisedof the plurality of first electrodes 6200 and the plurality of secondelectrodes 6300 respectively, the touch input device 100 is able todetect the pressure of each of multiple touches which have beensimultaneously input to the touch screen 130. Also, when there is norequirement for detecting the pressure of each of multiple touches, atleast one of the first electrode 2100 and the second electrode 2200 ofthe touch pressure sensing module 2000 may be, as shown in FIG. 18d ,comprised of the one electrode 6600.

Here, even when the first electrode 2100 and the second electrode 2200are formed in the same layer, the touch pressure can be also detected asdescribed in FIG. 12c . The first electrode 2100 and the secondelectrode 2200 may be configured and arranged as shown in FIG. 18 c, ormay be comprised of the one electrode 6600 as shown in FIG. 18 d.

As shown in FIG. 12e , the touch pressure sensing module 2000 accordingto the embodiment may include the first electrode 2100 formed in onelayer, the spacer layer 2400 formed under the layer in which the firstelectrode 2100 has been formed, and the second electrode 2200 formedunder the spacer layer 2400.

In FIG. 12 e, the configuration and operation of the first electrode andthe second electrode 2200 are he same as those of the foregoingreferring to FIG. 12 c, and thus, a description of the configuration andoperation will be omitted. When a pressure is applied to the touchscreen 130, the first electrode 2100 is, as shown in FIG. 12 f, curvedat least at the touch position, so that a distance “d” between the firstelectrode 2100 and the second electrode 2200 is changed, and thus, themutual capacitance between the first electrode 2100 and the secondelectrode 2200 is changed. Accordingly, the touch input device 100 isable to detect the touch pressure by measuring the mutual capacitancebetween the first electrode 2100 and the second electrode 2200.

As shown in FIG. 13, a touch screen 130 according to a second embodimentmay include a touch position-pressure sensing module 5000, a displaymodule 3000 disposed under the touch position-pressure sensing module5000, and a substrate 4000 disposed under the display module 3000.

Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the touch position-pressuresensing module 5000 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 13includes at least one electrode for sensing the touch position, and atleast one electrode for sensing the touch pressure. At least one of theelectrodes is used to sense both the touch position and the touchpressure. As such, the electrode for sensing the touch position and theelectrode for sensing the touch pressure are shared, so that it ispossible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the touch position-pressuresensing module, to reduce the overall thickness of the touch screen 130and to simplify the manufacturing process. In the sharing of theelectrode for sensing the touch position and the electrode for sensingthe touch pressure, when it is necessary to distinguish between thesensing signal including information on the touch position and thesensing signal including information on the touch pressure, it ispossible to distinguish and sense the touch position and the touchpressure by differentiating a frequency of the driving signal forsensing the touch position from a frequency of the driving signal forsensing the touch pressure, or by differentiating a time interval forsensing the touch position from a time interval fox sensing the touchpressure.

FIGS. 14a to 14k show a structure of the touch position-pressure sensingmodule according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 14a to 14k, the touch position-pressure sensing module 5000 according to thesecond embodiment may include a spacer layer 5400.

As shown in FIGS. 14a to 14i , the touch position pressure sensingmodule 5000 according to the embodiment may include a referencepotential layer 5500. The reference potential layer 5500 is the same asthat of the foregoing referring to FIGS. 12a to 12d , and thus, adescription of the reference potential layer 5500 will be omitted. Thereference potential layer may include a layer which is parallel with atwo-dimensional plane in which a below-described first electrode 5100for sensing the touch pressure has been formed, a two-dimensional planein which a below-described second electrode 5200 for sensing the touchpressure has been formed, or a two-dimensional plane in which abelow-described third electrode 5300 for sensing the touch pressure hasbeen formed.

As shown in FIG. 14 a, the touch position-pressure sensing module 5000according to the embodiment may include the first electrode 5100 formedin one layer, the spacer layer 5400 formed under the layer in which thefirst electrode 5100 has been thrilled, and the reference potentiallayer 5500 formed under the spacer layer 5400.

A description of the configuration of FIGS. 14a and 14b is similar tothe description referring to FIGS. 12a and 12 b. Hereafter, only thedifference between them will he described. As shown in FIG. 14b , whenthe object like the user's finger approaches the first electrode 5100the finger functions as a ground and the touch position can be detectedby the change of the self-capacitance of the first electrode 5100. Also,when a pressure is applied to the touch screen 130 by the object, adistance “d” between the first electrode 5100 and the referencepotential layer 5500 is changed, and thus, the touch pressure can bedetected by the change of the self-capacitance of the first electrode5100.

As shown in FIG. 14c , the touch position-pressure sensing module 5000according to the embodiment may include the first electrode 5100 formedin one layer, the second electrode 5200 formed in a layer under thelayer in which the first electrode 5100 has been formed, the spacerlayer 5400 formed under the layer in which the second electrode 5200 hasbeen formed, and the reference potential layer 5500 formed under thespacer layer 5400.

A description of the configuration of FIGS. 14c to 14f is similar to thedescription referring to FIGS. 12c and 12 d. Hereafter, only thedifference between them will be described. Here, the first electrode5100 and the second electrode 5200 may be, as shown in FIG. 18 a,comprised of the plurality of electrodes 6100 respectively. As shown inFIG. 14d , when the object like the user's finger approaches the firstelectrode 5100, the finger functions as a ground and the touch positioncan be detected by the change of the self-capacitance of the firstelectrode 5100. Also, when a pressure is applied to the touch screen 130by the object, a distance “d” between the reference potential layer 5500and both the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 ischanged, and thus, the touch pressure can be detected by the change ofthe mutual capacitance between the first electrode 5100 and the secondelectrode 5200.

Also, according to the embodiment, each of the first and secondelectrodes 5100 and 5200 may be, as shown in FIG. 18b , comprised of theplurality of first electrodes 6200 and the plurality of secondelectrodes 6300. The plurality of first electrodes 6200 and theplurality of second electrodes 6300 may be arranged to cross each other.Here, the touch position can be detected by the change of the mutualcapacitance between the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode5200, and the touch pressure can be detected by the change of theself-capacitance of the second electrode 5200 according to the change ofa distance “d” between the second electrode 5200 and the referencepotential layer 5500. Also, according to the embodiment, the touchposition can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance betweenthe first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200, and also, thetouch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitancebetween the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 accordingto the change of the distance “d” between the reference potential layer5500 and both the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200.

Here, even when the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200are formed in the same layer, the touch position and touch pressure canbe also detected as described with reference to FIGS. 14c and 14 d.However, in FIGS. 14c and 14d , regarding the embodiment where theelectrode should be configured as shown in FIG. 18 b, when the firstelectrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 are formed in the samelayer, the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 may beconfigured as shown in FIG. 18 c.

As shown in FIG. 14e , the touch position-pressure sensing module 5000according to the embodiment may include the first electrode 5100 and thesecond electrode 5200 which have been in the same layer, the thirdelectrode 5300 which has been formed in a layer under the layer in whichthe first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 have been formed,the spacer layer 5400 formed under the layer in which the thirdelectrode 5300 has been formed, and the reference potential layer 5500formed under the spacer layer 5400.

Here, the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 may beconfigured and arranged as shown in FIG. 18 c, and the first electrode5100 and the third electrode 5300 may be configured and arranged asshown in FIG. 18 b. As shown in FIG. 14f , when the object like theuser's finger approaches the first electrode 5100 and the secondelectrode 5200, the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 5100and the second electrode 5200 is changed, so that the touch position canbe detected. When a pressure is applied to the touch screen 130 by theobject, a distance “d” between the reference potential layer 5500 andboth the first electrode 5100 and the third electrode 5300 is changed,and then the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 5100 and thethird electrode 5300 is hereby changed, so that the touch pressure canbe detected. Also, according to the embodiment, the touch position canbe detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the firstelectrode 5100 and the third electrode 5300, and the touch pressure canbe detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the firstelectrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200.

As shown in FIG. 14 g, the touch position-pressure sensing module 5000according to the embodiment may include the first electrode 5100 formedin one layer, the second electrode 5200 formed in a layer under thelayer in which the first electrode 5100 has been formed, the thirdelectrode 5300 formed in the same layer as the layer in which the secondelectrode 5200 has been formed, the spacer layer 5400 formed under thelayer in which the second electrode 5200 and the third electrode 5300have been formed, and the reference potential layer 5500 formed underthe spacer layer 5400.

Here, the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 may beconfigured and arranged as shown in FIG. 18 b, and the second electrode5200 and the third electrode 5300 may be configured and arranged asshown in FIG. 18c . In FIG. 14h , the touch position can be detected bythe change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 5100and the second electrode 5200, and the touch pressure can be detected bythe change of the mutual capacitance between the second electrode 5200and the third electrode 5300. Also, according to the embodiment, thetouch position can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitancebetween the first electrode 5100 and the third electrode 5300, and thetouch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitancebetween the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200.

As shown in FIG. 14i , the touch position-pressure sensing module 5000according to the embodiment may include the first electrode 5100 formedin one layer, the second electrode 5200 formed in a layer under thelayer in which the first electrode 5100 has been formed, the thirdelectrode 5300 formed under the layer in which the second electrode 5200has been formed, the spacer layer 5400 formed under the layer in whichthe third electrode 5300 has been formed, and the reference potentiallayer 5500 formed under the spacer layer 5400.

Here, the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 may beconfigured and arranged as shown in FIG. 18b , and the second electrode5200 and the third electrode 5300 may be also configured and arranged asshown in FIG. 18 b. Here, when the object like the user's fingerapproaches the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200, thefinger functions as a ground and the touch position can be detected bythe change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 5100and the second electrode 5200. Also, when a pressure is applied to thetouch screen 130 by the object, a distance “d” between the referencepotential layer 5500 and both the second electrode 5200 and the thirdelectrode 5300 is changed, so that the touch pressure can be detected bythe change of the mutual capacitance between the second electrode 5200and the third electrode 5300. Also, according to the embodiment, whenthe object like the user's finger approaches the first electrode 5100and the second electrode 5200, the finger functions as a ground, so thatthe touch position can be detected by the change of the self-capacitanceof each of the first and second electrodes 5100 and 5200.

As shown in FIG. 14 j, the touch position-pressure sensing module 5000according to the embodiment may include the first electrode 5100 formedin one layer, the second electrode 5200 formed in a layer under thelayer in which the first electrode 5100 has been formed, the spacerlayer 5400 formed under the layer in which the second electrode 5200 hasbeen formed, and the third electrode 5300 formed under the spacer layer5400.

Here, the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 may beconfigured and arranged as shown in FIG. 18b , and the third electrode5300 may be configured as shown in FIG. 18a or the second electrode 5200and the third electrode 5300 may be also configured and arranged asshown in FIG. 18 b. Here, when the object like the user's fingerapproaches the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200, thefinger functions as a ground and the touch position can be detected bythe change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 5100and the second electrode 5200. Also, when a pressure is applied to thetouch screen 130 by the object, a distance “d” between the secondelectrode 5200 and the third electrode 5300 is changed, so that thetouch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitancebetween the second electrode 5200 and the third electrode 5300. Also,according to the embodiment, when the object like the user's fingerapproaches the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200, thefinger functions as a ground, so that the touch position can be detectedby the change of the self-capacitance of each of the first and secondelectrodes 5100 and 5200.

As shown in FIG. 14k , the touch position-pressure sensing module 5000according to the. embodiment may include the first electrode 5100 formedin one layer, the spacer layer 5400 formed under the layer in which thefirst electrode 5100 has been formed, and the second electrode 5200formed under the spacer layer 5400.

Here, the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 may beconfigured and arranged as shown in FIG. 18b . Here, the touch positioncan be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between thefirst electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200. Also, when apressure is applied to the touch screen 130 by the object, a distance“d” between the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200 ischanged, so that the touch pressure can be detected by the change of themutual capacitance between the first electrode 5100 and the secondelectrode 5200. The first electrode 5100 and the second electrode 5200may be configured and arranged as shown in FIG. 18 a. Here, when theobject like the user's finger approaches the first electrode 5100, thefinger functions as a ground and the self-capacitance of the firstelectrode 5100 is changed, so that the touch position can be detected.Also, the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutualcapacitance between the first electrode 5100 and the second electrode5200.

As shown in FIG. 15, a touch screen 130 according to a third embodimentmay include the touch position sensing module 1000, the display module3000 disposed under the touch position sensing module 1000, the touchpressure sensing module 2000 disposed under the display module 3000, andthe substrate 4000 disposed under the touch pressure sensing module2000.

In the touch screens 130 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10and 13, since the touch pressure sensing module 2000 which includes thespacer layer 2400 or the touch position-pressure sensing module 5000which includes the spacer layer 5400 is disposed on the display module3000, the color clarity, visibility, optical transmittance of thedisplay module 3000 may be reduced. Therefore, in order to prevent suchproblems, the touch position sensing module 1000 and the display module3000 are fully laminated by using an adhesive like an optically clearadhesive (OCA), and the touch pressure sensing module 2000 is disposedunder the display module 3000. As a result, the aforementioned problemcan be alleviated and solved. Also, an existing gap formed between thedisplay module 3000 and the substrate 4000 is used as the spacer layerfor detecting the touch pressure, so that the overall thickness of thetouch screen 130 can be reduced.

The touch position sensing module 1000 according to the embodiment shownin FIG. 15 is the same as the touch position sensing module shown inFIGS. 11a to 11 d.

The touch pressure sensing module 2000 according to the embodiment shownin FIG. 15 may be the touch pressure sensing module shown in FIGS. 12ato 12f and the touch pressure sensing module shown in FIGS. 16a to 16 b.

As shown in FIG. 16a , the touch pressure sensing module 2000 accordingto the embodiment may include the reference potential layer 2500, thespacer layer 2400 formed under the reference potential layer 2500, andthe first electrode 2100 formed under the spacer layer 2400. Since theconfiguration and operation of FIG. 16a are the same as those of FIGS.12a and 12b with the exception of the fact that the position of thereference potential layer 2500 and the position of the first electrode2100 are replaced with each other, repetitive descriptions thereof willbe omitted hereafter.

As shown in FIG. 16 b, the touch pressure sensing module 2000 accordingto the embodiment may include the reference potential layer 2500, thespacer layer 2400 formed under the ground, the first electrode 2100formed in a layer under the spacer layer 2400, and the second electrode2200 formed in a layer under, the layer in which the first electrode2100 has been formed. Since the configuration and operation of FIG. 16bare the same as those of FIGS. 12c and 12 d with the exception of thefact that the position of the reference potential layer 2500, theposition of the first electrode 2100 and the position of the secondelectrode 2200 are replaced with each other, repetitive descriptionsthereof will be omitted hereafter. Here, even when the first electrode2100 and the second electrode 2200 are formed in the same layer, thetouch pressure can be detected as described in FIGS. 12c and 12 d.

Although it has been described in FIG. 15 that the display module 3000is disposed under the touch position sensing module 1000, the touchposition sensing module 1000 can be included within the display module3000. Also, although it has been described in FIG. 15 that the touchpressure sensing module 2000 is disposed under the display module 3000,a portion of the touch pressure sensing module 2000 can be includedwithin the display module 3000. Specifically, the reference potentiallayer 2500 of the touch pressure sensing nodule 2000 may be disposedwithin the display module 3000, and the electrodes 2100 and 2200 may beformed under the display module 3000. As such, when the referencepotential layer 2500 is disposed within the display module 3000, a gapformed within the display module 3000 is used as the spacer layer fordetecting the touch pressure, so that the overall thickness of the touchscreen 130 can be reduced. Here, the electrodes 2100 and 2200 may beformed on the substrate 4000. As such, when the electrodes 2100 and 2200are formed on the substrate 4000, not only the gap formed within thedisplay module 3000 but also the gap formed between the display module3000 and the substrate 4000 is used as the spacer layer for detectingthe touch pressure, so that the sensitivity for detecting the touchpressure can be more improved.

FIG. 17a shows a structure of the touch screen according to a fourthembodiment. As shown in FIG. 17a , the touch screen 130 according to thefourth embodiment may include at least one of the touch position sensingmodule and the touch pressure sensing module within the display module3000.

FIGS. 17b and 17c are structure views of touch pressure sensing andtouch position sensing of the touch screen according; to the fourthembodiment. FIGS. 17b and 17c take an LCD panel as an example of thedisplay module 3000.

In case of the LCD panel, the display module 3000 may include a TFTlayer 3100 and a color filter layer 3300. The TFT layer 3100 includes aTFT substrate layer 3110 disposed directly thereon. The color filterlayer 3300 includes a color filter substrate layer 3200 disposeddirectly thereunder. The display module 3000 includes a liquid crystallayer 3600 between the TFT layer 3100 and the color filter layer 3300.Here, the TFT substrate layer 3110 includes electrical componentsnecessary to generate an electric field driving the liquid crystal layer3600. Particularly, the TFT substrate layer 3110 may be comprised ofvarious layers including a data line, a gate line, TFT, a commonelectrode, a pixel electrode and the like. These electrical componentsgenerate a controlled electric field and orient the liquid crystals inthe liquid crystal layer 3600. More specifically, The TFT substratelayer include a column common electrode (column Vcom) 3430, a low commonelectrode (low Vcom) 3410 and a guard shield electrode 3420. The guardshield electrode 3420 is located between the column common electrode3430 and the low common electrode 3410 and is able to minimize theinterference caused by a fringe field which may be generated between thecolumn electrode 3430 and the low comma electrode 3410. The foregoingdescription of the LCD panel is apparent to those skilled in the art.

As shown FIG. 17 b, the display module 3000 according to the embodimentof the present invention may include sub-photo spacers 3500 disposed onthe color filter substrate layer 3200. These sub-photo spacers 3500 maybe disposed on the interface between the low common electrode 3410 andthe adjacent guard shield electrode 3420. Here, a conductive materiallayer 3510 like ITO may be patterned on the sub-photo spacer 3500. Here,a fringing capacitance C1 is formed between the low common electrode3410 and the conductive material layer 3510, and a fringing capacitanceC2 is formed between the guard electrode 3420 and the conductivematerial layer 3510.

When the display module 3000 shown in FIG. 17b functions as the touchpressure sensing module, a distance between the sub-photo spacers 3500and the TFT substrate layer 3110 may be reduced by an external pressure,and thus, a capacitance between the low common electrode 3410 and theguard shield electrode 3420 may be reduced. Accordingly, 17 b, theconductive material layer 3510 functions as the reference potentiallayer and detects the change of the capacitance between the lows commonelectrode 3410 and the guard shield electrode 3420, so that the touchpressure can be detected.

FIG. 17c shows a structure in which the LCD panel as the display module3000 is used as the touch position sensing module. The arrangement ofthe common electrodes 3730 is shown in FIG. 17c . Here, for the purposeof detecting the touch position, these common electrodes 3730 may bedivided into a first area 3710 and a second area 3720. Accordingly, forexample, the common electrodes 3730 included in dune first area 3710 maybe operated in such a manner as to function in response to the firstelectrode 6400 of FIG. 18c , and the common electrodes 3730 included inone second area 3720 may be operated in such a manner as to function inresponse to the second electrode 6500 of FIG. 18 c. That is, in orderthat the common electrodes 3730, i.e., electrical components for drivingthe LCD panel are used to detect the touch position, the commonelectrodes 3730 may be grouped. Such a grouping can be accomplished by astructural configuration and manipulation of operation.

As described above, in FIG. 17, the electrical components of the displaymodule 3000 are caused to operate in conformity with their originalpurpose, so that the display module 3000 performs its own function.Also, at least some of the electrical components of the display module3000 are caused to operate for detecting the touch pressure, so that thedisplay module 3000 functions as the touch pressure sensing module.Also, at least some of the electrical components of the display module3000 are caused to operate for detecting the touch position, so that thedisplay module 3000 functions as the touch position sensing module.Here, each operation mode may be performed in a time-division manner. Inother words, the display module 3000 may function as the display modulein a first time interval, as the pressure sensing module in a secondtime interval, and/or as the position sensing module in a third timeinterval.

FIGS. 17b and 17c only show the structures for the detection of thetouch pressure and the touch position respectively for convenience ofdescription. So long as the display module 3000 can be used to detectthe touch pressure and/or the touch position by operating the electricalcomponents for the display operation of the display module 3000, thedisplay module 3000 can be included in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a structure view of the touch input device 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention. The device 100 according to theembodiment of the present invention may include a controller 110, thetouch screen 130, and a processor 140.

Input to the touch input device 100 may be performed by touching thetouch screen 130. The touch input device 100 according to the embodimentof the present invention may be a portable electronic device like alaptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a smartphone.Also, the touch input device 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention may be a non-portable electronic device like a desktopcomputer, a smart television.

The touch screen 130 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention allows a user to operate a computing system by touching thescreen with an object like a finger. In general, the touch screen 130recognizes the touch on the panel and the computing system analyzes thetouch and performs operations in accordance with the analysis.

The processor 140 according to the embodiment of the present inventioncan detect whether a touch occurs or not on the touch screen and thetouch position when the touch occurs on the touch screen 130. Also, theprocessor 140 can measure the amount of the capacitance change occurringaccording to the touch when the touch occurs on the touch screen 130.

Specifically, through the touch position sensing module 1000 or thetouch position-pressure sensing module 5000 of the touch screen 130, theprocessor 140 can measure capacitance change amount according to theapproach of an object 10 to the touch screen 130 and can calculate thetouch position from the measured capacitance change amount. Also, theprocessor 140 according to the embodiment can calculate theaforementioned touch position through the display module 3000 capable ofdetecting the touch position/touch pressure of the touch screen 130.

Also, the capacitance change amount may be changed according to thetouch pressure and or touch area when the touch occurs. Therefore, whenthe touch occurs on the touch screen 130, the processor 140 can measurethe capacitance change amount according to the touch pressure and/or thetouch area. Here, the less the touch pressure and/or the touch areabecomes, the less the capacitance change amount becomes, and the greaterthe touch pressure and/or the touch area becomes, the greater thecapacitance change amount becomes.

Specifically, the processor 140 may measure the capacitance changeamount caused by the pressure which is applied from the object 10 to thetouch screen 130 through the touch pressure sensing module 2000, thetouch position-pressure sensing module 5000 or the display module 3000of the touch screen 130, which is capable of detecting the touchpressure, and may calculate the magnitude of the touch pressure from themeasured capacitance change amount.

The capacitance change amount which is generated by the object 10touching the touch screen 130 can be measured by summing the capacitancechange amounts of each of a plurality of sensing cells. For example, asshown in FIG. 2a , when a common touch is input to the touch screen 130by the object 10, the sum of the capacitance change amounts is 90. Also,as shown in FIG. 2 b, when the touch with pressure is input to the touchscreen 130 by the object 10, the sum of the capacitance change amountsis 570 (=90+70+70+70+70+50+50+50+50).

Also, the processor 140 may measure the capacitance change amount causedby the approach of the object 10 to the touch screen 130 through thetouch position sensing module 1000, the touch position-pressure sensingmodule 5000 or the display module 3000 of the touch screen 130, which iscapable of detecting the touch position/pressure, and may calculate thetouch area from the measured capacitance change amount. For example, asshown in FIG. 3a , when the area of the object 10 touching the touchscreen 130 is “a”, the capacitance change amount is 90(=50+10+10+10+10). As shown in FIG. 3 b. When the area of the object 10touching the touch input device 100 is “b” larger than “a”, thecapacitance change amount is 310 (=50+45+45+45+45+20+20+20+20). Here,the magnitude of the pressure which is applied when the object 10touches the touch input device 100 in both FIGS. 3a and 3b may be 0 orthe same.

In particular, although the processor 140 according to the embodiment ofthe present invention does not touch directly the touch screen 130, theprocessor 140 is able to recognize a hovering state in which the objectlike the finger is close enough to the touch screen 130 to cause thechange of the capacitance in the touch screen 130.

For example, when the object is located within about 2 cm from thesurface of the touch screen 130, the processor 140 measures thecapacitance change amount according to the approach of the object 10 tothe touch screen 130 through the touch position sensing module 1000 orthe touch position-pressure sensing module 5000 of the touch screen 130,and then is able to calculate, from the measured capacitance changeamount, whether or not the object exists and the where the object islocated.

In order that the movement of the object is recognized as hovering overthe touch screen 130, it is desirable that the error of the capacitancechange amount which is generated at the touch screen 130 by the hoveringis larger than that of the capacitance change amount which is generatedat the common touch screen 130.

The mutual capacitance change amount in the touch screen 130, which isgenerated during the hovering of the object, may be smaller than that ofthe capacitance change amount of the direct touch on the touch screen130. Hereafter, the touch on the touch screen 130 may include thehovering. For example, the hovering may be classified as having thesmallest touch pressure and/or the smallest touch area.

Therefore, the processor 140 may detect the capacitance change amountgenerated at the touch screen 130, may calculate whether the touchoccurs or not, the touch position, the touch pressure magnitude and thetouch area, and/or may measure the capacitance change amount caused bythe touch.

The measured capacitance change amount and/or at least any one of thetouch position, touch pressure magnitude and touch area calculated fromthe measured capacitance change amount is transmitted to the, controller110 by the processor 140. Here, the controller 110 may calculate a touchtime period by using the capacitance change amount transmitted from theprocessor 140. According to the embodiment, the controller 110 may be anapplication processor. The application processor is able to perform thecommand interpretation, operation, and control, etc., in the portableelectronic device.

Specifically, when the touch on the touch input device 100 correspondsto the hovering, the controller 110 measures a time period during whichthe capacitance change amount is maintained from a first predeterminedvalue to a second predetermined value, and thus, calculates a timeperiod during which the object touches the touch screen 130. Here, thefirst predetermined value may be the minimum value of the capacitancechange amount which causes the touch to be recognized as the hovering,and the second predetermined value may be the maximum value of thecapacitance change amount which causes the touch to be recognized as thehovering. For example, when the first predetermined value is 20 and thesecond predetermined value is 50, a time period during which thecapacitance change amount is maintained from 20 to 50 is, as shown inFIG. 4 a, 8t, so that the touch time period of the hovering is 8t.

Also, when the touch occurs directly on the touch screen 130, thecontroller 110 measures a time period during which the capacitancechange amount is maintained greater than the second predetermined value,and thus, calculates a time period during which the object touches thetouch screen 130. For example, when the second predetermined value is50, a time period during which the capacitance change amount ismaintained greater than 50 is, as shown in FIG. 4 b, 2t, so that thetouch time period of the direct touch is 2t.

The touch input device 100 including the touch screen 130 according tothe embodiment of the present invention may further include a memory120.

The controller 110 determines a touch level on the touch on the touchscreen 130 with reference to the memory 120 according to the capacitancechange amount transmitted from the processor 140 or the touch timeperiod calculated based on the capacitance change amount, and thus,generates a control signal for feedback according to the touch level.

The memory 120 according to the embodiment of the present invention mayinclude a level table (not shown) and a feedback table (not shown). Thelevel table may store the capacitance change amount and or the touchlevel on the touch time period. The feedback table may store a feedbackmeans and/or a feedback on the touch level. This will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 6a to 8.

There is a necessity to classify the touch level on the touch screen 130in accordance with the use of the touch input device 100. That is, whenthe touches on the touch screen 130 have different touch levels, theymay be mutually different input to the touch input device 100. Howeverwhen the user touches the touch screen 130, he/she has a difficulty inbeing himself/herself aware of which touch level he/she touches thetouch screen 130 at. Therefore, the touch input device 100 according tothe embodiment of the present invention is able to provide feedback onthe touch level when the user touches the touch screen 130.

In a level determining unit of the controller 110, at least one of thetouch pressure magnitude and the touch area may be classified into astepwise touch level according to the sections of the capacitance changeamount. For example, when it is assumed that the capacitance changeamount a value from 0 to 600, at least one of the touch pressuremagnitude and the touch area may be calculated as a first level for thecapacitance change amount in a range with the smallest value fromgreater 0 to 150, at least one of the touch pressure magnitude and thetouch area may be calculated as a second level for the capacitancechange amount in a range with next largest value from greater 150 to300, at least one of the touch pressure magnitude and the touch area maybe calculated as a third level for the capacitance change amount in arange with the next largest value from greater 300 to 450, and at leastone of the touch pressure magnitude and the touch area may be calculatedas a tour level for the capacitance change amount in a range with thelargest value from greater 450 to 600. According to the embodiment, thefirst level may represent the touch pressure magnitude or the touch areaaccording to the hovering. Here, the stepwise classification of thetouch pressure magnitude or the touch area may be changed according tothe embodiment. For example, the touch pressure magnitude or the toucharea may be classified into only the hovering and the direct touch, ormay be classified into various levels including the hovering. Such acorrelation between the capacitance change amount and the touch levelmay be stored in the level table.

This is just an example. The touch pressure magnitude and/or the toucharea may be set to have a continuous value in such a manner proportionalto the capacitance change amount.

Therefore, since the capacitance change amount is 90 when the touchoccurs as shown in FIGS. 2a and 3 a, the touch pressue magnitude and/orthe touch area may be calculated as the first level. Since thecapacitance change amount is 570 when the touch occurs as shown in FIG.2 b, the touch pressure magnitude and/or the touch area may becalculated as the fourth level. Since the capacitance change amount is310 when the touch occurs as shown in FIG. 3 b, the touch pressuremagnitude and/or the touch area may be calculated as the third level.

However, this is just an example. The feedback can be determined fromthe capacitance change amount without calculating the touch level. Inthis case, when the capacitance change amount is assumed to have a valuefrom 0 to 600, the feedback table of the memory 120 may be created suchthat the feedback in the range from greater 0 to 150, the feedback inthe range from greater 150 to 300, the feedback in the range fromgreater 300 to 450, and the feedback in the range from greater 450 to600 are distinguished from each other.

Also, in the level determining unit, the touch time period may beclassified into a stepwise touch level. Specifically, when it is assumedthat the touch time;period has a value from 0t to 12t, the touch timeperiod in a range with a value from greater 0t to 3t may be calculatedas a first level, the touch time period in a range with the next largestvalue from greater 3t to 6t may be calculated a second level, the touchtime period in a range with the next largest value from greater 6t to 9tmay be calculated as a third level, and the touch time period in a rangewith the largest value from greater 9t to 12t may he calculated as afourth level. Therefore, the touch time period (8t) shown in FIG. 4a maybe calculated as the third level, and the touch time period (4t) shownin FIG. 4b may be calculated as the second level. Such a correlationbetween the touch time period and the touch level may be stored in thelevel table of the memory 120.

However, this is just an example. The feedback can be determined fromthe touch time period without calculating the touch level. In this case,when the touch time period is assumed to have a value from 0 t to 3t,the feedback table of the memory 120 may be created such that thefeedback in the range from greater 0t to 3t, the feedback in the rangefrom greater 3t to 6t, the feedback in the range from greater 6t to 9t,and the feedback in the range from greater 9t to 12t are distinguishedfrom each other.

The foregoing process of determining the touch level may be performed bya pressure magnitude determining unit of the controller 110 or by theprocessor 140.

FIG. 5 shows feedback performing steps based on the touch level on thescreen 130 of touch input device 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the feedback performing methodbased on the touch level on the touch screen 130 of the touch inputdevice 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention mayinclude a step S210 of performing the touch on a touch input window 200displayed on the touch screen 130.

The touch input window 200 is displayed on the touch screen 130 of thetouch input device 100 and may be generally a screen displaying a regionwhich is touched by the user and is indicated by reference numeral 400in FIG. 6. Hereafter, a case where the touch region is clearly displayedwill be described. However, this is just an example and the touchposition is not necessarily clearly displayed. For example, any positionof the touch input window 200 displayed on the touch screen 130 may betouched, or a predetermined position of the touch input window 200 maybe touched. FIG. 6 and the following description show that the touchinput window 200 is displayed on the entire touch screen 130. However,the touch input window 200 may represent a portion of the touch screen130, for example, only the touch region indicated by reference numeral400.

As shown in FIG. 5, the feedback performing, method based on the touchlevel according to the embodiment of the present invention may include astep S220 of determining the touch level on the touch input window 200displayed on the touch screen 130. The step S220 of determining thetouch level may be performed by the controller 110. For example, thecontroller 110 may include the level determining unit which determines alevel corresponding to the capacitance change amount according to thetouch processed by the processor 140. Here, the controller 110 may makereference to a table, i.e., the level table, for a correlation betweenthe level and the touch pressure magnitude, touch area and/or touch timeperiod.

When the touch occurs on the touch screen 130, the level table may storethe correlation between the touch level and the capacitance changeamount which is generated at the touch screen 130 in accordance with thetouch pressure magnitude and/or the touch area, or the correlationbetween the touch level and the touch time period calculated by thecapacitance change amount. According to the touch pressure magnitude,touch area and/or touch time period, the touch level may be classifiedinto a plurality of levels. For example, the touch level may have atleast two levels.

Also, the controller 110 may directly determine the plurality of touchlevels simply from the data for the capacitance change amount, which hasbeen received from the processor 140, without reference to the memory120.

As shown in FIG. 5, the feedback performing method based on the touchlevel according to the embodiment of the present invention may include astep S230 of generating the control signal for the feedback according tothe touch level.

The step S230 of generating the control signal may be, performed bymaking reference to the memory 120 which stores a unique feedback methodfor each of the plurality of touch levels. A feedback means according tothe touch level may be also stored together in the feedback table of thememory 120. For example, information on which feedback means amongvibration, sound and screen display the feedback according to the touchlevel is performed may be stored in a feedback table. For instance, thememory 120 may include the feedback table storing the feedback meansand/or feedback method which corresponds to each of the plurality oftouch levels.

For example, the control signal generated by a control signal generatorof the controller 110 may be transmitted to at least one of a displaydrive unit (not shown), a speaker drive unit (not shown), a vibrationdevice drive unit (not Shown) of the means performing the correspondingfeedback.

As shown in FIG. 5, the feedback performing method based on the touchlevel according to the embodiment of the present invention may include astep S240 of performing the feedback in accordance with the controlsignal generated in step S230. The feedback may be performed by thefeedback method on the corresponding touch level in the feedback meansdetermined according to the touch level on the touch screen 130.

The step S240 of performing the feedback by the feedback methodaccording to the embodiment of the present invention may be carried outduring the touch of the object on the touch screen. For example, theuser checks the corresponding touch level through the feedback whiletouching the touch screen 130 by using the object.

FIGS. 6a to 8 show the feedback means and feedback method according tothe touch level in accordance with the embodiment of the presentinvention. FIGS. 6a to 6e show a feedback means and feedback methodaccording to the touch level in accordance with the first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6a shows that the feedback on the touch level is displayed on thetouch screen 130 when a finger 500 touches a touch region 400. Thefeedback may be displayed on the touch screen 130 in the form of anyshape or by any method such that the plurality of touch levels aredistinguished from each other.

FIG. 6a shows that the touch level on the touch region 400 is displayedon the touch screen 130 in the form of a digital bar 600. For example,when the user touches the touch region 400, the user is able to be awareof the touch level by checking the digital bar 600 displayed on thetouch screen 130.

FIG. 6a shows that the finger 500 presses the touch region 400 at thethird level. As shown, in FIG. 6a , the digital bar 600 is able todisplay four different states from the first level to the fourth level.For example, the digital bar 600 may display a first bar 601 withshading when the touch region 400 is touched at the first level, maydisplay the first bar 601 and a second bar 602 with shading when thetouch region 400 is touched at the second level, may display the firstbar 601 to a third bar 603 with shading when the touch region 400 istouched at the third level, and may display the first bar 601 to afourth bar 604 with shading when the touch region 400 is touched at thefourth level. In the digital bar 600 in FIG. 6a , the first bar 601 tothe third bar 603 are displayed with shading and the fourth bar 604 isnot displayed with shading, it can be seen that the finger 500 touchesthe touch region 400 at the third level.

The digital bar 600 may be displayed on the screen, for example, whenthe touch occurs on the touch region 400. Through the digital bar 600,the user is allowed to check visually the change of the level of thetouch on the touch region 400. The user is allowed to change the touchlevel until he/she finally selects the touch level that he/she wants.

When the touch level according to the touch pressure magnitude or thetouch area is intended to be changed, the touch level that the userwants can be selected by controlling the touch pressure magnitude or thearea of the finger 500 touching the touch region 400.

In the change of the touch level according to the touch time period,when the touch level does not reach the desired touch level, the desiredtouch level can be selected by maintaining the touch until the touchtime period reaches the touch time period that the user wants. However,when the touch level exceeds the desired touch level, the desired touchlevel cannot be selected by decreasing the touch level. In this case, bymaintaining the touch during a time period longer than a predeterminedmaximum touch time period, the touch level is reset and the low touchlevel is selected. As a result, the desired touch level can be selected.

Specifically, in the digital bar 600, when the touch time period of thetouch region 400 exceeds the fourth level, the touch level starts againfrom the first level. Here, the first bar 601 indicating the first levelmay be displayed with shading. Then, as the touch time period isincreased, the touch level may be displayed in the order of the secondlevel, the third level and the fourth level.

Also, unlike the foregoing, in the digital bar 600, when the touch timeperiod of the touch region 400 exceeds the fourth level, the touch levelis decreased to the third level. Here, the first to the third bars 601,602 and 603 indicating the third level may be displayed with shading.Then, as the touch time period is increased, the level may be displayedsuch that the level is decreased to the second level and the first levelin reverse order and then is increased in the order of the second leveland the third level when the level reaches the first level.

After that, the user checks the touch level through the digital bar 600,and then selects the desired touch level. For example, after the usertouches the touch region 400 at desired touch level, the user mayrelease the finger 500 from the touch input window 200. Here, in thecase where the touch is selected according to the touch pressuremagnitude and/or the touch area, when the finger 500 of the user staysat a position for the finger 500 to be recognized as the hovering overthe touch screen 130, the controller 110 may recognize that the touchlevel is still being checked. Therefore, the user presses the touchregion 400 of the touch screen 130 at the desired touch level, and thenmoves the finger 500 out of the position for the finger 500 to berecognized as the hovering over the touch screen 130.

For example, when the desired touch level is the third level, throughthe digital bar 600 shown FIG. 6 a, the user checks that the touch levelat which the touch region 400 is pressed is the third level. Then, thethird level can be selected by releasing the finger 500 from the touchput window 200.

Here, when the touch level is selected according to the touch pressuremagnitude and/or the touch area, during the release of the finger 500,the touch pressure magnitude or the touch area on the touch region 400passes through from the third level to the second level and the firstlevel, and then reaches a state where there is no touch pressuremagnitude or touch area. Here, when the staying time period at eachtouch level is less than a predetermined time period, the controller 110is set such that the corresponding touch level is not selected, so thatit is possible to prevent an error of selecting an incorrect touch levelat the time of releasing the finger. As a result, it is possible thatthe incorrect selection is made due to the rapid change of the touchpressure magnitude or the touch area, for example, the release of thefinger. For example, when the third level is selected and the finger 500is released, the selection of the first level can be prevented.

The feedback table included in the memory 120 may store the feedbackmeans and/or the feedback method based on the touch level, on the touchregion 400 respectively. The controller 110 may make reference to thelevel table in accordance with the level of the touch on the touchregion 400, and thus, may generate the control signal such that anoutput indicating the corresponding touch level is accomplished.

In FIG. 6a , the digital bar 600 which is displayed as the feedbackmeans on the touch screen 130 may be set in advance in the feedbacktable. The first bar 601 to the third bar 603 of the digital bar 600 maybe stored as the feedback method such that the first bar 601 to thethird bar 603 are displayed with shading to indicate the third level. InFIG. 6a , the control signal generated from the control signal generatorof the controller 110 may be indirectly or indirectly transmitted to thedisplay drive unit (not shown) capable of driving the display panel,i.e., the corresponding feedback means, of the touch screen 130.

The control signal indicating the feedback means and the feedback methodmay display the digital bar 600 on the display panel through the displaydrive unit (not shown) in accordance with the control signal, and maydisplay the first to the fourth hats 601 to 604 with shading.

The method of checking the touch level en the touch screen 130 throughthe display panel of the touch screen 130 is not limited to theaforementioned digital bar 600. Any various methods may be used as themethod of checking the touch level. After a unified means like thedigital bar 600 shown in FIG. 6a is displayed, the shading, etc., aredifferentially applied according to the touch level, so that the touchlevels are can be distinguished. Furthermore, mutually different shapes,icons, etc., having no correlation at all with the touch level may bedisplayed on the touch screen 130.

More specifically, it can be understood that the feedback according tothe touch level is correlated with the touch level in the feedbackmethod shown in FIG. 6a . That is, the feedback method shown in FIG. 6ahas a positive correlation in which the more the touch level rises, thelarger the number and/or order of the bars of the digital bar 600 whichare displayed with shading is. It is possible to configure that thefeedback and the touch level have a negative correlation in which themore the touch level rises, the less the number and/or order of the barsof the digital bar 600 which are displayed with shading is.

As such, when the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels isperformed to have the correlation with the touch level, at the momentwhen the user recognizes the feedback, the user is able to beintuitively aware of which touch level the touch screen 130 is touchedat. However, in the trend of considering privacy including personalinformation as important, when there is necessity of protectinginformation according to the input of the user, problems may be caused.

Therefore, the present invention is able to provide the feedbackaccording to the touch level when the user touches the touch screen 130and to provide a feedback technology of causing a third party not toeasily recognize the feedback. In other words, the present invention isable to provide the feedback such that the feedback on each of theplurality of touch levels is uncorrelated with the touch level. That is,the feedback on the touch level may be selected and performed in such amanner that the corresponding touch level cannot be intuitivelyrecognized.

FIGS. 6b to 6e show that the feedback on each of the plurality of touchlevels has the uncorrelation with the touch level.

As shown in FIG. 6b , when the user touches the touch region 400 at thefirst level, the feedback may be provided such that a circle 601 isdisplayed. The user is able to recognize in advance that the circle 601is a feedback indicating the first level or to set the feedbackindicating the first level as the circle.

As shown in FIG. 6c , when the user touches the touch region 400 at thesecond level, the feedback may be provided such that a triangle 602 isdisplayed. Likewise, as shown in FIGS. 6d and 6e , when the user touchesthe touch region 400 at the third level and the fourth level, thefeedback may be provided such that a quadrangle 603 and a lozenge 604are displayed.

Here, even though a third party sees that the circle 601, the triangle602, the quadrangle 603 and the lozenge 604 are displayed on the touchscreen 130, the third party is not able to recognize which touch levelthe corresponding shape has. Therefore, the touch information of theuser according to the touch level is protected from the third party, sothat security can be improved. Here, the user may be fully aware inadvance of the touch levels that the shapes, icon, etc., indicate. Theuser is able to check his own touch level in accordance with the changeof the shape.

The foregoing has described the case where the feedback has theuncorrelation with the touch level without changing the feedback means.However, this is just an example. The feedback including the change ofthe feedback means may be uncorrelated with the touch level. Forexample, a first shape may be displayed on the touch screen for thefirst level, and vibration having a first rhythm may be generated forthe second level.

The feedback method which is described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8is similar to the feedback method which is described with reference toFIG. 6. Therefore, the following description will be focused on thedifference between them.

In FIG. 7 a, when the finger 500 touches the touch region 400, the touchlevel may be output in the form of sound 310 through a speaker 300.Here, the output through the speaker may be set in advance as thefeedback means of the feedback table. Also, the sound which isdistinguished and output according to the touch level may be stored asthe feedback method of the feedback table.

Here, the control signal which is output from the control signalgenerator of the controller 110 is transmitted to a speaker drive unit(not shown) and may allow the speaker 300 to be driven according to thecorresponding feedback method. At least one of the frequency, amplitude,length, kind, melody and the number of the sound 310 which is outputthrough the speaker 300 may be changed so as to distinguish each of theplurality of touch levels.

Here, the feedback may be performed such that the feedback on each ofthe plurality of touch levels has the correlation with the touch level.However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thefeedback may be performed such that the feedback on each of theplurality of touch levels is uncorrelated with the touch level. Forexample, the case where the feedback on each of the plurality of touchlevels has the correlation with the touch level means that the feedbackmay be performed such that the sound is generated one time for the firstlevel, the sound is generated twice for the second level, the sound isgenerated three times for the third level, and the sound is generatedfour times for the fourth level,

FIG. 7b shows that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levelshas the uncorrelation with the touch level. FIG. 7b shows that differentrhythms have been assigned to the first to the fourth levels. The soundwith a rhythm of long-long-long-short-short for the first level, thesound with a rhythm of long-short-long-short-long for the second level,the sound with a rhythm of short-long-short-long-short for the thirdlevel, and the sound with a rhythm of short-short-short-long-long forthe fourth level may be output as the feedback. Here, the “long” mayrepresent a sound output time period relatively longer than that of“short”. In the specification of the present invention, the rhythm ofthe sound may have a concept included in the melody.

Also, in the case where the feedback is led such that the feedback oneach of the plurality of touch levels has the correlation with the touchlevel, sounds made by a cat for the first level, sounds made by a goatfor the second level, sounds made by a puppy for the third level, soundsmade by a calf for the fourth level may be also separately output.Furthermore, the sound may be variously set such that the feedback oneach of the plurality of touch levels is uncorrelated with the touchlevel. The feedback method according to the touch level may be stored inthe feedback table.

In FIG. 8, when the finger 500 touches the touch region 400, the touchlevel may be output in the form of vibration 710 through a vibrationdevice (not shown). The output through the vibration device (not shown)may be set in advance as the feedback means of the feedback table. Also,the vibration 710 which is distinguished and output according to thetouch level may be stored as the feedback method of the feedback table.

Here, the control signal which is output from the control signalgenerator of the controller 110 is transmitted to the vibration devicedrive unit (not shown) and may allow the vibration device (not shown) tobe driven according to the corresponding feedback method. At least oneof the frequency, intensity, length, melody and the number of thevibration 710 which is output through the vibration device (not shown)may be changed so as to distinguish each of the plurality of touchlevels.

Here, the feedback may be performed such that the feedback on each ofthe plurality of touch levels has the correlation with the touch level.However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thefeedback may be performed such that the feedback on each of theplurality of touch levels has the uncorrelation with the touch level.

For example, in the case where the feedback on each of the plurality oftouch levels has the correlation with the touch level, the feedback maybe performed such that the vibration is generated one time for the firstlevel, the vibration is generated twice for the second level, thevibration is generated three times for the third level, and thevibration is generated four times for the fourth level. Also, in thefeedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the uncorrelationwith the touch level, for example, the feedback may be set such that thevibration is generated according to the rhythms shown in FIG. 7 b.

The feedback method according to the touch level may be stored in thefeedback table. Here, the intensity of the vibration 710 may representpower which drives the vibration device.

Hereafter, a passcode and an unlocking function which are capable ofimproving the security of the touch input device 100 and of protectingthe user's privacy by using the aforementioned feedback method andfeedback means according to the touch level will be described withreference to FIGS. 9a to 9 d.

With reference to the memory 120 in accordance with the processingresult from the processor 140, the controller may signal as to whetherthe pressure magnitude, area, the number, rhythm and/or position of thetouch on the touch screen 130 match a predetermined passcode or not.

The memory 120 according to the embodiment of the present invention maystore, for example, a predetermined passcode. The predetermined passcodemay be set advance by the user or may be set by default for the touchinput device 100. There may be a requirement or process of unlocking forthe purpose of using the touch input device 100 according to theembodiment of the present invention or for the purpose of performing aspecific application or function. Here, it is necessary to input aspecific passcode so as to unlock. Such a passcode may be stored as thepredetermined passcode in the memory 120.

The controller 110 according to the embodiment of the present inventionmay further include a comparator (not shown). The comparator compares apasscode which is input through the touch screen 130 with thepredetermined passcode of the memory 120, thereby determining whetherthe two passcodes match each other or not. The controller 110 is herebyable to generate the first control signal. Although it is described thatcomparator is included controller 110, this is an example. Thecomparator may be located in any place and be included in the processor140 in accordance with the embodiment.

The passcode input window 200 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention allows the user to input the passcode for unlocking the screenin order to use the touch input device 100 or in order to perform aspecific application of function. In the past, in general, the screen isunlocked by inputting a passcode consisting of a predeterminedcombination of letters and/or numbers to the passcode input window 200.The present invention is able to provide a passcode and an unlockingfunction which are capable of maintaining high security and are easy tooperate.

FIG. 9a shows an example of a process of unlocking the passcode inputwindow 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 9 a, the passcode input window 200 according to the firstembodiment is displayed on the touch screen 130 of the touch inputdevice 100. As shown in FIG. 9a , the passcode input window 200according, to the first embodiment may include a plurality of passcodeinput region 400. For the purpose of unlocking the touch input device100, the user is able to perform the touch with the same touch pressuremagnitude and/or touch area as the touch pressure magnitude and/or toucharea which is stored as the predetermined passcode for each of thepasscode input regions 401, 402, 403 and 404.

The comparator included in the controller 110 is able to determinewhether or not all the touch levels on the passcode input regions 401,402, 403 and 404 match, respectively, the touch levels of thecorresponding regions, which have been stored as the predeterminedpasscode. When the comparator determines that all the touch levels onthe passcode input regions 401, 402, 403 and 404 match, respectively,the touch levels of the corresponding regions, the controller 110 maygenerate the first control signal for unlocking the touch input device100. When even at least one of the touch levels on the passcode inputregions 401, 402, 403 and 404 is different from the touch level of thecorresponding region, which has been stored as the predeterminedpasscode, the controller 110 may notify that the input passcode iswrong, may provide a chance to input a passcode again and/or maygenerate the first control signal causing the touch input device 100 notto be unlocked.

For example, as the predetermined passcode, the third level may be setin the first region 401, the fourth level may be set in the secondregion 402, the first level may be set in the third region 403, and thesecond level may be set in the fourth region 404. That is, according tothe embodiment of the present invention, the touch level as well as theposition of the passcode input region may be used as the passcode. Here,the touch level may be on at least one of the touch pressure magnitude,touch area and touch time period.

In order to unlock the touch input device 100, the user may touch thefirst region 401 with a predetermined position at the third level, maytouch the second region 402 at the fourth level, may touch the thirdregion 403 at the first level, and may touch the fourth region 404 atthe second level,

Here, according to the embodiment, it is not necessary to sequentiallyperform the touch from the first region 401 to the fourth region 404.Here, the passcode for unlocking may be set through a combination of thetouch position and the touch level. In this case, when the combinationof the touch position and the touch level matches that of the passcoderegardless of the touch order, the touch input device 100 can beunlocked. When the passcode for unlocking may be set through acombination of the touch order as well as the touch position and touchlevel, the touch input device 100 can be unlocked by touching the firstto the fourth regions 401, 402, 403 and 404 in accordance with the touchorder determined as the predetermined passcode.

The memory 120 of the touch input device 100 stores the position of eachof the passcode input regions 400. Therefore, the touch occurs on anyregion 401 among the passcode input regions 400, the comparator of thecontroller compares the position information stored in the memory 120with the information on the touch position as the processing result ofthe processor 140 thereby recognizing which region the touch hasoccurred on.

Here, when the user touches the touch screen 130 of the touch inputdevice 100, he/she has a difficulty, in being himself/herself aware ofwhich touch level he/she touches the touch screen 130 at. Therefore, inthe input of the passcode for unlocking, an error inevitably occurs.Thus, the touch input device 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is able to provide feedback on the touch level whenthe user touches the touch screen 130. The feedback method and meansdescribed with reference to FIGS. 6a to 8 can be used. For example, whenthe user touches each of the passcode input regions 401, 402, 403 and404, the user checks the touch level and finally selects a touch levelthat the user wants. Accordingly, the touch on each region 401, 402, 403and 404 can be completed.

Also, the passcode input window 200 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention may include a text input window (not shown). Forexample, the text input window may disposed between the first to thefourth regions 401 402, 403 and 404 or at any position. Also, the shapeof the text input window may be the same as or different from those ofthe first to the fourth regions 401, 402, 403 and 404. Also, the textinput window may include a space in which a text including at least oneletter, number, symbol, etc., can be input. In order to input the textto the text input window, the user is allowed to use a key pad (notshown) which can be displayed on the touch screen.

In this case, when all the touch levels on the plurality if passcodeinput regions 401, 402, 403 and 404 match, respectively, the touchlevels of the corresponding regions, which have been stored as thepredetermined passcode and when the text input to the text input windowmatches a text stored as the predetermined passcode, the controller 110generates the first control signal and unlocks the touch input device100.

The passcode input window 200 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention may include one passcode input region 401. The passcode inputregion 401 invention not necessarily explicitly displayed, and thepasscode input window 200 itself may be recognized as the passcode inputregion.

For the purpose of unlocking touch input device 100, the user may touchthe passcode input region 401 by means of the number, rhythm and/orlevel of the touch, which have been stored as the predeterminedpasscode.

According to the embodiment, the number of the touches and the rhythm ofthe touch on the passcode input region 401 nay be set as thepredetermined passcode. For instance the touch occurs distinctively fivetimes on the passcode input region 401 during a predetermined timeperiod, and the five touches may consist of“long-short-long-long-short”. Here, a time interval the object to beseparated from the touch screen 130 may be required between the touches.The actual touch period may be stored together as the predeterminedpasscode, for example, “long” means a touch for 2 seconds, and “short”means touch for 1 second. However, an additional checking process may berequired for the user to clearly distinguish the touch time period.Therefore, the passcode may be generated such that “long” and “short”are distinguished by comparing relative time periods of continuoustouches according to the embodiment. For example, on the basis of thetouch duration time of the first touch in the five continuous touches,the touches with touch duration times within a predetermined error rangeof the touch duration time of the first touch are distinguished fromtouch duration times of the rest of the touches, and then it isdetermined whether the touch duration times of the rest of the touchesare greater or less than that of the first touch. Accordingly, when thetouch duration times of the rest of the touches are greater than that ofthe first touch, the rest of the touches are recognized as “long” andthe first touch and the touches with touch duration times within thepredetermined error range are recognized as “short”. Likewise, when thetouch duration times of the rest of the touches are less than that ofthe first touch, the rest of the touches are recognized as “short” andthe first touch and the touches with touch duration times within thepredetermined error range are recognized as “long”. The distinctionbetween “long” and “short” is just an example. The relative length oftime can be compared in various ways.

Also, the rhythm of “long-short-long-long-short” may be a relativelength between time intervals having no touch between the touches. Forexample, the rhythm may be set such that the touch occurs actually sixtimes and the relative length of five time intervals where the fingerhas not touched the touch screen between the six touches has a rhythm of“long-short-long-long-short”. A rhythm on the relative length betweenthe touch time interval on the touch screen and the time intervalbetween the touches may be set as a passcode.

The comparator included in the controller 110 is able to determinewhether or not the number and rhythm of the touch on the passcode inputregion 401 match the number and rhythm of the touch, which have beenstored as the predetermined passcode. When the comparator determinesthat the number and rhythm of the touch on the passcode input region 401match the number and rhythm of the touch, the controller 110 maygenerate the first control signal for unlocking the touch input device100. The touch rhythm can be sequentially applied to the plurality ofpasscode input regions 401, 402, 403 and 404 shown in FIG. 9 a.

Also, according to the embodiment, the number of the touches and thelevel of the touch on the passcode input region 401 may be set as thepredetermined passcode. For instance, the touch occurs distinctivelyfive times on the passcode input region 401 during a predetermined timeperiod, and the five touches may consist of“great-small-great-great-small”. Here, “great” may represent that thetouch occurs at a level which is relatively greater than “small”. Theactual touch level may be stored together as the predetermined passcode,for example, the first level is assigned to “great” and the second levelis assigned to “small”. However, an additional checking process may berequired for the user to clearly distinguish the touch level. Therefore,the passcode may be generated such that “great” and “small” aredistinguished by comparing relative levels of continuous touchesaccording to the embodiment. For example, on the basis of the touchlevel of the first touch in the five continuous touches, the toucheswith touch levels within a predetermined error range of the touch levelof the first touch are distinguished from touch levels of the rest ofthe touches, and then it is determined whether the touch levels of therest of the touches are greater or smaller than that of the first touch.Accordingly, when the touch levels of the rest of the touches aregreater than that of the first touch, the rest of the touches arerecognized as “great” and the first touch and the touches with touchlevels within the predetermined error range are recognized as “small”.Likewise, when the touch levels of the rest of the touches are smallerthan that of the first touch, the rest of the touches are recognized as“small” and the first touch and the touches with touch levels within thepredetermined error range are recognized as “great”. The distinctionbetween “great” and “small” is just an example. The relative touch levelcan be compared in various ways.

Furthermore, the foregoing combination of the rhythm according to thetouch time period and/or the rhythm according to the touch level may beused to unlock.

The comparator included in the controller 110 is able to determinewhether or not the number and level of the touch on the passcode inputregion 401 match the number and level of the touch, which have beenstored as the predetermined passcode. When the comparator determinesthat the number and level of the touch on the passcode input region 401match the number and level of the touch, the controller 110 may generatethe first control signal for unlocking the touch input device 100.

The foregoing combination of the number of the touches, touch level andtouch rhythm can be used to unlock the touch input device 100 and can bealso applied to the following embodiments,

FIG. 9b shows an example of a process of unlocking the passcode inputwindow 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 9b , the passcode input window 200 according to the secondembodiment is displayed on the touch screen 130 of the touch inputdevice 100 As shown in FIG. 9b , the plurality of touches may besimultaneously input to the passcode input window 200.

In the second embodiment, the comparator included in the controller 110is able to determine whether or not the combination of the levels andthe number of the touches occurring simultaneously on the passcode inputwindow 200 matches the combination of the levels and the number of thetouches which have been stored as the predetermined passcode. When thecomparator determines that the combination of the levels and the numberof the touches occurring simultaneously on the passcode input window 200matches the combination of the levels and the number of the toucheswhich have been stored as the predetermined passcode, the controller 110may generate the first control signal for unlocking the touch inputdevice 100. When even at least one of the combinations of the levels andthe number of the touches occurring simultaneously on the passcode inputwindow 200 is different from the combination of the levels and thenumber of the touches, which has been stored as the predeterminedpasscode, the controller 110 may notify that the input passcode iswrong, may provide a chance to input a passcode again and/or maygenerate the first control signal causing the touch input device 100 notto be unlocked.

In the second embodiment, since the plurality of touches occursimultaneously on the passcode input window 200, it may be difficult tocheck the touch level according to the feedback. Therefore, in thesecond embodiment, only the direct touch and hovering on the touchscreen 130 can be simply distinguished. In this case, only the firstlevel and the second level may be distinguished. Otherwise, only thetouch level of “great” and the touch level of “small” may be relativelydistinguished.

For example, it may he set that, as the predetermined passcode, fourtouches should simultaneously occur on the passcode input window 200 andtwo out of the four touches should be direct touches and the rest of thetwo should be hovering, otherwise, two out of the four touches should berelatively the touch levels of “great” and the rest of the two should bethe touch levels of “small”. In other words, in the second embodiment,the number and the level of the simultaneously occurring touches can beused as the passcode.

So as to unlock the touch input device 100, the user touchessimultaneously the passcode input window 200 with a first finger 510 toa fourth finger 540. Here, the user touches directly with the firstfinger 510 and the second finger 520 (e.g., the second level) and mayperform the hovering with the third finger 530 and the fourth finger 540the first level). Here, a fifth finger 550 does not touch the passcodeinput window 200.

As shown in FIG. 9b , according to the embodiment, the passcode inputwindow 200 may include a plurality of divided regions. For example, eachdivided region is displayed with a grid cell (displayed with 1×1 to N×M)consisting of N columns and M rows. Here, the number and the level ofthe simultaneously occurring touches may be used as the passcode.

According to the embodiment, the predetermined passcode may be setthrough a combination including not only the foregoing number and thelevel of the simultaneously occurring touches but also the touchposition. For example, a condition that two touches should occur in the3×1 and 4×1 grid cell positions at the second level and two touchesshould occur in the 2×2 and 3×3 grid cell positions at the first levelmay be further stored as the predetermined passcode. In this case, inorder to unlock the touch input device 100, the user may perform thetouch on the passcode input window 200 by means of the same touchposition as well as the same number and same level of the simultaneouslyoccurring touches as the touch position, number and level of thepredetermined passcode.

FIG. 9c shows an example of a process of unlocking the passcode inputwindow 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 9c , the passcode input window 200 according to the thirdembodiment is displayed on the touch screen 130 of the touch inputdevice 100. As shown in FIG. 9 c, the passcode input window 200according to the third embodiment may include a plurality of nodes 401to 415.

In the third embodiment, the comparator included in the controller 110is able to determine whether or not a combination of the touch level andthe nodes that are touched among the plurality of nodes 401 to 415displayed on the passcode input window 200 matches a combination of thetouch level and the nodes that are touched, which has been stored as thepredetermined passcode. When the comparator determines that thecombinations match each other, the controller 110 may generate the firstcontrol signal for unlocking the touch input device 100.

For example, it may be set that, as the predetermined passcode, thetouch should occur the nodes 401, 404, 405, 406, 408, 411, and 415 andthe touch should occur the nodes 405 and 411 at the first level, thetouch should occur the nodes 406 and 415 at the second level, the touchshould occur the node 404 at the third level, and the touch should occurthe nodes 401 and 408 at the fourth level. In other words, in the thirdembodiment, the node that is touched and the touch level can be used asthe passcode.

Here, according, to the embodiment, it is not necessary to sequentiallyperform the touch on the nodes 401 to 415 according to the referencenumeral of the node. Here, the passcode for unlocking may be set througha combination of the touch level and the node that is touched. In thiscase, when the combination of the touch level and the node that istouched matches that of the passcode regardless of the touch order, thetouch input device 100 can be unlocked.

When the passcode for unlocking may be set through a combination of thetouch order as well as the touch level and the node that is touched, thetouch input device 100 can be unlocked by touching the nodes 401, 404,405, 406, 408, 411, and 415 in accordance with the touch orderdetermined as the predetermined passcode. For example, it is shown inFIG. 9 c, that the order of the touch on the node is the node 401, node408, node 406, node 405, node 404, node 411, and node 415. However, thisis just an example. The order of the touch node may be randomlydetermined.

Also, a line connecting the nodes that are touched according to theembodiment may or may not be touched by the finger, etc. For example, inFIG. 9 c, when the finger touches the node 401 with a predetermined areaand moves to the node 408, it may be, as indicated by line 1, set suchthat the finger moves touching the passcode input window 200 or moveswithout touching. When the finger moves touching between the nodes, thetouch area is not distinguished and only the direct touch may berecognized. According to the embodiment, only the direct touch andhovering may be distinguished.

FIG. 9d shows an example of a process of unlocking the passcode inputwindow according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 9d , the passcode input window 200 according to the fourthembodiment is displayed on the touch screen 130 of the touch inputdevice 100. Similar to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 9c , in theembodiment shown in FIG. 9d , the passcode input window 200 may includea plurality of nodes 401 to 405. The fourth embodiment is similar to theaforementioned third embodiment. However, unlike the third embodiment,the positions and shapes of the nodes 401 to 405 are not clearlydisplayed on the passcode input window 200. In the fourth embodiment,the plurality nodes 401 to 405 are concealed in the passcode inputwindow 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 9d , the plurality of nodes401 to 405 are hidden behind a specific shape (rabbit shape), so thateach node can be created unnoticeably.

According to the embodiment, the user may set in advance the pluralityof nodes 401 to 405 in the shape displayed on the passcode input window200. Otherwise, according to the embodiment, a shape in which theplurality of nodes 401 to 405 have been defined in advance may bedisplayed on the passcode input window 200. Here, the method ofunlocking is the same as the method described relative to the thirdembodiment. That is, the combination of node that is touched among theplurality of nodes 401 to 405, the touch level and/or the touch ordermay be used as the passcode. Here, also, in the third and fourthembodiments, the combination of the number, rhythm and/or level of thetouch on each node 401 may be also set as the passcode. Also, betweenthe touches on the plurality of nodes, the rhythm of the touch may beset as the passcode.

A process of unlocking the passcode input window according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention may be performed by performingaccording to a specific pattern the touch on the passcode input window200 displayed on the touch screen 130 (not shown). According to theembodiment, the user may set a passcode in advance by drawing a patternto be used as a passcode on the touch screen 130. For example, aheart-shaped pattern may be set as a passcode, and then the user maytouch on the touch screen 130 in accordance with the preset heart-shapedpattern so as to unlock. Here, a start point in the drawing of thepasscode pattern and/or the order of the drawing may be also set as apasscode.

Here, the specific pattern to be stored as the passcode may be any shapeor picture. Also, the specific pattern to be stored as the passcode maybe a text including letters, numbers and any symbols. Here, the text maybe recognized as a text or shape.

The comparator compares the input pattern with the specific patternstored as the predetermined passcode. Here, when similarity between thepatterns is greater than a predetermined value, the touch input device100 may be unlocked. Here, a position where the specific pattern isdrawn may be set as a passcode. Even when a touch according to thecorresponding pattern occurs on any position of the passcode inputwindow 200 in accordance with the embodiment, the touch may berecognized as the same pattern. According to the embodiment, thepasscode pattern which is input according to the touch on the passcodeinput window 200 may or may not be displayed on the touch screen 130.

Also, according to the embodiment, a touch for drawing the specificpattern on the touch screen 130 may include the hovering as well as thedirect touch. Also, the touch for drawing the specific pattern may beperformed by a combination of the direct touch and the hovering. Forexample, the direct touch may be performed in a predetermined intervalof the specific pattern and the hovering may be performed in the otherinterval of the specific pattern. Here, the touch level may be alsocombined as the passcode.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention were describedabove, these are just examples and do not limit the present invention.Further, the present invention may be changed and modified in variousways, without departing from the essential features of the presentinvention, by those skilled in the art. For example, the componentsdescribed in detail in the embodiments of the present invention may bemodified. Further, differences due to the modification and applicationshould be construed as being included in the scope and spirit of thepresent invention, which is described in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch input device capable of unlocking apasscode in accordance with a touch pressure, the touch input devicecomprising: a touch screen which displays a passcode input window; acontroller which generates a first control signal as to whether or not atouch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode; anda memory which stores the predetermined passcode; wherein the passcodeinput window comprises a plurality of nodes which are disposed indifferent positions, wherein the number of touched nodes among theplurality of nodes, the order of the touched nodes among the pluralityof nodes, and a pressure level of the touch on each of the touched nodesamong the plurality of nodes are set as the predetermined passcode; andwherein the pressure level of the touch is classified into at least twolevels.
 2. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein a shape of atleast one of the plurality of nodes is a part of an image displayed onthe touch screen.
 3. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein shapesof at least two of the plurality of nodes are different from each other.4. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein a position or shape of atleast one of the plurality of nodes is set by a user.
 5. The touch inputdevice of claim 1, wherein the pressure level of the touch is calculatedon the basis of a capacitance change amount which is generated from atouch sensing module included in the touch screen.
 6. The touch inputdevice of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores a relation betweenthe pressure level of the touch and a capacitance change amount which isgenerated from a touch sensing module included in the touch screen, andwherein the pressure level of the touch is determined with reference tothe memory.
 7. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the controllergenerates a second control signal for a feedback according to thepressure level of the touch, and wherein the feedback on each of thepressure levels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level. 8.The touch input device of claim 2, wherein the controller generates asecond control signal for a feedback according to the pressure level ofthe touch, and wherein the feedback on each of the pressure levels ofthe touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.
 9. The touch inputdevice of claim 3, wherein the controller generates a second controlsignal for a feedback according to the pressure level of the touch, andwherein the feedback on each of the pressure levels of the touch isuncorrelated with the pressure level.
 10. The touch input device ofclaim 4, wherein the controller generates a second control signal for afeedback according to the pressure level of the touch, and wherein thefeedback on each of the pressure levels of the touch is uncorrelatedwith the pressure level.
 11. A method for unlocking a passcode in atouch input device in accordance with a touch pressure, the methodcomprising: displaying a passcode input window on a touch screen;determining a pressure level of a touch on the passcode input window;and generating a first control signal as to whether or not the touch onthe passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode; wherein thepasscode input window comprises a plurality of nodes which are disposedin different positions; wherein the number of touched nodes among theplurality of nodes, the order of the touched nodes among the pluralityof nodes, and the pressure level of the touch on each of the touchednodes among the plurality of nodes are set as the predeterminedpasscode; and wherein the pressure level of the touch is classified intoat least two levels.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein a shape of atleast one of the plurality of nodes is a part of an image displayed onthe touch screen.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein shapes of at leasttwo of the plurality of nodes are different from each other.
 14. Themethod of claim 11, wherein a position or shape of at least one of theplurality of nodes is set by a user.
 15. The method of claim 11, whereinthe pressure level of the touch is calculated on the basis of acapacitance change amount which is generated from a touch sensing moduleincluded in the touch screen.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein thedetermining the pressure level of the touch is performed by makingreference to a memory which stores a relation between the pressure levelof the touch and a capacitance change amount which is generated from atouch sensing module included in the touch screen.
 17. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising, after the determining of the pressurelevel of the touch before the generating of the first control signal,generating a second control signal for a feedback according to thepressure level, and performing the feedback in accordance with thesecond control signal; wherein the feedback on each of the pressurelevels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.
 18. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising, after the determining of thepressure level of the touch before the generating of the first controlsignal, generating a second control signal for a feedback according tothe pressure level; and performing the feedback in accordance with thesecond control signal; wherein the feedback on each of the pressurelevels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.
 19. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising, after the determining of thepressure level of the touch before the generating of the first controlsignal, generating a second control signal for a feedback according tothe pressure level; and performing the feedback in accordance with thesecond control signal; wherein the feedback on each of the pressurelevels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.
 20. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising, after the determining of thepressure level of the touch before the generating of the first controlsignal, generating a second control signal for a feedback according, tothe pressure level; and performing the feedback accordance with thesecond control signal: wherein the feedback on each of the pressurelevels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.